CFB: USF Announces 2012 Football Schedule

March 28, 2012, 10:02 AM

SIOUX FALLS, SD -

The University of Sioux Falls athletic department confirmed the 2012 football schedule today. Highlighted by an 11-game all NSIC slate, six of which at home, the Cougars are set to face two of three (St. Cloud, Minnesota State) teams that shared the conference title in 2011.

USF begins its season in unknown territory Saturday, Sept. 1, when they travel to St. Cloud, Minn. to challenge 2011 NSIC Co-Champions, St. Cloud State University in the school's first-ever meeting on the gridiron.

One week later, USF will host Minnesota State University-Moorhead Sept. 8 in the first of six home games slated for the 2012 season.

The Cougars travel to Minot, N.D. Sept. 15 to see a familiar face in Minot State University, who was also in transition to the NCAA DII last season. The two teams met twice in 2011, resulting in two USF wins, which the Cougars won by a combined score of 34 points.

USF returns to Sioux Falls for their third and fourth home contests Sept. 22 and Sept. 29, a stretch that features visits by Bemidji State University and Southwest Minnesota State University, respectively.

The first of two trips to the North Star State for the Cougars will take place Oct.6, when they head to Winona, Minn. to line-up across the Warriors.

On Oct. 13, USF will entertain Concordia University-St. Paul in to kick-off three consecutive weekends in Sioux Falls.

USF will travel just six blocks south of campus to Kirkeby-Over Stadium Oct. 20, when they collide with cross-town rival, Augustana College to determine the city's best football program. The 21st meeting, which features an 18-2 Viking advantage, marks the first opportunity for the Cougars to even-up the lopsided series in 26 years.

The following weekend, the Cougars will head across town to Bob Young field and host Upper Iowa University, another first-year opponent, on Oct. 27.

A second trip to Minnesota for USF is scheduled for Nov. 3, when the Cougars encounter 2011 NSIC Co-Champion Minnesota State University-Mankato in Mankato, Minn. The two squads have not met in three-quarters of a century (1937).

The regular season comes to an end Nov.10 when USF invites Wayne state College to Sioux Falls, S.D.

USF is coming off a challenging season, as the team competed in just nine games and finished 5-4 on the year. Highlighted by a five-game win streak and competitive losses at D-I FCS members, McNeese State and No.25 University of North Dakota, the Cougars will look to build on last year's growth with a majority of players returning.

Courtesy: Dennis Gamble, USF Sports Information

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